Chartering an NACSW chapter establishes a local community dedicated to integrating Christian faith and social work practice. This page covers what it takes, for each of the three chapter types — what the chapter needs, how it is established with NACSW, how to apply, and what happens once the charter is granted.
Chapter Documents
These two documents are the authority on how NACSW chapters are formed and operated. Everything summarized on this page is covered in full in the manual.
- NACSW Chapter Operations Manual (PDF) — chapter types, membership and pricing, benefits, roles, chartering, operations, annual requirements, and the year-end report form. Revised July 2026.
- New Chapter Application (fillable PDF) — complete on screen, save a copy for your records, and submit it as described in the form. Revised August 2026.
What Every Chapter Needs
Whatever the type, every chapter shares the same foundation:
- Alignment with the mission and values of NACSW, including a commitment to integrating faith and social work practice.
- A plan for regular meetings, activities, and engagement with the broader NACSW community.
- Primary participants who are Christians in social work practice or education, or students enrolled in a social work program.
What differs by type is how the chapter is established, who must hold NACSW membership, and the minimum number of people required. Those are set out below.
University / Social Work Program Chapters
How the chapter is established
The program joins as an Organizational Member. That single membership covers one Faculty Liaison and makes every student in the campus chapter an automatic NACSW member at no extra cost. Students do not each pay individually.
Organizational membership is tiered by program size — enrolled BSW plus MSW students — across four bands, from small programs of up to 50 students through very large programs of more than 300. Larger programs pay more. Chapters may be chartered at any accredited institution offering a social work program.
What you need to charter
- A minimum of two students.
- A Faculty Liaison who is an NACSW member, affiliated with the department that oversees social work student activities. If no faculty member currently holds NACSW membership, NACSW can help identify a suitable person.
- University approval, confirmed with the application, along with the Faculty Liaison’s approval.
What university chapters do
Campus chapters combine educational events, service projects, faith-based gatherings, and professional development, and give students a place to think about faith and practice together before they graduate into it. Chapters of this type also have support that is specific to them:
- Small grants that university student chapters may apply for to support their activities and initiatives.
- The Student Chapter of the Year Award.
- Student activities at NACSW Conventions, including events and networking tailored to student members.
- Internship and volunteer opportunities that student members may apply for through NACSW.
- Opportunities to present at NACSW conventions and showcase research, projects, and ideas.
Church / Congregation Chapters
How the chapter is established
A church joins through a flat annual Church / Congregation membership, separate from social work program pricing. That membership includes one designated church liaison and a congregational chapter. Interested congregants join individually at standard rates, or add a small-group bundle.
This membership is being piloted for one year and then adjusted, so if you are considering a congregational chapter, now is a good time to talk with the national office.
What you need to charter
- A local church or congregation willing to join through a Church / Congregation membership.
- A designated church liaison to coordinate the chapter and serve as the point of contact with NACSW.
What church chapters do
A congregational chapter is a natural place for the social workers, students, and helping professionals in a congregation to find one another, and for the congregation’s own service ministries to draw on professional practice wisdom. Like every chapter, it meets regularly and mixes educational events, service, fellowship, and professional development.
Regional, State & Field-of-Practice Chapters
How the chapter is established
These chapters are member-driven. NACSW charters them at no cost or for a nominal charter fee, and each participating member holds their own individual NACSW membership — including the volunteer coordinator. A local agency, church, or university may sponsor the chapter as an Organizational Member.
What you need to charter
- A volunteer coordinator who is an NACSW member.
- A minimum of five to ten individual members, each holding their own NACSW membership.
- A shared basis for the chapter — a state, a region, or a field of practice.
What regional, state, and field-of-practice chapters do
Because these chapters are built by their members rather than around an institution, what they do varies the most. Ask the members in your area what they want from a chapter before you build a programme around it — the chapters that last are the ones whose activities reflect the needs and interests of their own members, at a rhythm the members can actually keep.
How to Apply
- Read the Chapter Operations Manual and complete the New Chapter Application.
- Include what your chapter type requires — for a university chapter, your NACSW-member Faculty Liaison’s approval and confirmation of university approval; for a church chapter, your designated church liaison; for a regional, state, or field-of-practice chapter, your volunteer coordinator and founding members.
- Send the completed application and any associated fees to ex***************@***sw.org.
The national office reviews each application and may request additional information. Applications are reviewed and voted on by the NACSW Board of Directors. Upon approval, the chapter is officially chartered and receives a charter certificate. A charter or induction service may be held using the template in the manual’s appendices.
Once You’re Chartered
Healthy chapters share a few common practices: they meet regularly, offer a mix of educational events, service projects, faith-based gatherings, and professional development, connect with other chapters and the wider NACSW network, and keep a current roster of officers and members with a simple way to reach everyone and welcome newcomers.
Chapters are led by officers who foster community and shared ownership. The usual roles are President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, Chaplain, and Member-at-Large, alongside the Faculty Liaison, church liaison, or volunteer coordinator for the chapter’s type.
Officer duties, member responsibilities, ethics and conduct, insurance and legal responsibility, and the full range of support NACSW provides to chartered chapters are set out in the Chapter Operations Manual.
Annual Requirements
Every chapter completes a Chapter Year-End Report and submits it to the national office by May 31 each year. The report captures officers, membership totals, and the year’s service activities; for university chapters it also captures financial information and new member recruitment. The form is in the appendices of the Chapter Operations Manual.
Chapters renew their charter annually by submitting an updated report and any applicable dues. NACSW may terminate a charter after prolonged inactivity, failure to submit required reports, or violation of NACSW policies; the national office will always communicate with chapter leadership before any such action.
Questions?
For questions, applications, and assistance, contact the NACSW national office:
North American Association of Christians in Social Work
Applications and reports: ex***************@***sw.org
General inquiries: in**@***sw.org
Toll-free: 888.426.4712